Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-30
maritime Commerce.

Maritime Commerce.
Los Angeles has reached that stage OF
commercial Importance that warrants
her in looking out beyond the limits OF
her present mercantile bounds, and TAX
ing q step forward in the direction OF
building up a maritime trade with the
Polyne sia islands, the coast OF Mexico
and Central and South America. With
one ample harbor open to vessels OF con-
siderable tonnage. and two other ports
in prospective, there is nothing to pre-
vent our merchants availing them
selves of the great highway of nations to
swe II the mercantile prosperity OF our
city with the merce OF the
ORR ent and of the Spanish Amer
lean Republics. The coffees OF
Gu atemala and Costa Rica, the
spices and precious woods OF the
Borneos, the sugars OF Hawaii,
China and the Philippines, and the costly
prod uc,s of Mexico and South America
shou Id be brought to our harbors on
vessels owned by Los Angeles merchants.
The capital, the energy and the FORE
sight are here. All we have do do is to
utilize them in adding to our
domestic trade the limitlcss posi-.
hi lities OF foreign commerce. We are
not lust now as well situated as San
Francisco to become maritime port OF
first-class consequence; but vessels
draw ing from twelve to fifteen feet OF
water can safely enter our harbor and
discharge cargo at our wharves. By
taking advantage of the highest tides,
even vessels of greater draft can
come over the bar at San Pedro.
This fact opens up a vast
prospect of commercial even,ualties to
our pc ople. For years the inner harbor
of San Pedro has been accessible to
good sized vessels bringing lumber from
the northern coast. As the years roll
on be entrance to our present available
harbor will deepen, and there is no in
supera BILE obstacle to our port being
made, in a comparatively short time, as
&C cessible to vessels of the largest tom
mage as it is now to craft that draw
tive I've feet and over. We don't know
what may be evolved out of Portuguese
Bend as a harbor. There is ample
depth of water there now for the deep
est vessels. If capital should energeti.
cally take hold of the project and make
such harbor improvements as are posi-
BILE, we might before long find
ourselves with most valuable
port there. As to Ballona har.
bor, we have great faith in its sue
cessful ou tcome. But with the very
exec llent harbor we now have, promis-
ing beginning could be made to the in
auguration of commerce beyond seas
that would grow into magnificent pro-
portions. The first practical step taken
in tn is direction would give our city a
Or estige of priceless value. 1t would
carry us at once over whatever semblance
of q line of provincialism that remains Of
our former character, and lift us into the
i'm portance Of city of maritime conse.
quence. 1t would bring us into imme.
diate commercial relations with great
number of foreign ports, and give an i'm.
petus to the mercantile business of our
city that would be fraught with ex-
psnsive and lasting benefits. In
this connection it would be well
to consider the complemental advan-
tages we possess over San Francisco to
grasp the trade of Mexico and Central
and South America. We are five hun
dred miles nearer to that trade by sea
than our northern rival, and we are five
hundred miles nearer to the great mar
kets of the Atlantic States, where a
large proportion of these imports could
be disposed of, than she is. With these
two important points of advantage. we
should be able, if not to snatch the
prize from the grasp of San Francisco,
at least to divide it with her. One of
our leading business men is now in
England negotiating for steamer to ply
between San Pedro and Victoria, bring
ing ON her return trip cargoes OF coal
from Puget Sound to supply
our market. This is suggestive
step. Now let some of our merchants
secure q packet steamer to ply between
San Pedro and Honolulu to supply this
market with sugar; and another to visit
che ports of Mexico and Central Amer
ics to supply us with coffee and other
r;,h nroducts of those countries. These
ventures would be followed by others on
4. larger scale, and we would soon find
Los Angeles with fleet Of swift vessels
coming to our port. laden with costly
caruoes destined for the Atlantic mar
let's. Who would have ventured to
p;cture the present greatness OF Los An
ceIss q few years ago? Who is now
nrepsred to say what lies in the womb
- our maritime possibilities to fructify
and bear wonderful commercial fruit ten
years hence!